Free Web NovelI flew straight to Italy.
“Boss.”
When I arrived at Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence, Igor was already waiting.
“Igor. It's been a while since I've seen you in person.”
Under the protection of Igor and the mercenaries, I left the airport.
As soon as I got into the car, I asked,
“Has Giuliano still not talked?”
“No. Since we can't use torture that directly harms his body...”
Igor trailed off in frustration. For once, he even sounded as though he was making excuses.
Seeing that side of Igor, I chuckled softly.
“It's fine. I know everything already. Lorenze is against it, right?”
“Yes. He understands direct interrogation. But even when Giuliano refuses to talk, he still won't leave him to us. He absolutely refuses to let us conduct the interrogation ourselves.”
Italy was famous for its strong family bonds and affection.
Family was the central pillar of Italian society, and the Medici family, the greatest family in Italy, possessed those traits even more strongly.
Perhaps because of that, throughout the centuries of the family's existence, there had never been a single attempt to seize power from within.
But that record had been broken in Lorenze's generation.
And by his own brother, no less.
“He still can't let go. I'll try persuading Lorenze personally.”
“Understood, Boss.”
“And the elders?”
“They claim they're innocent and say that Baltice was the one who incited them.”
“What do they have to feel wronged about?”
No matter how much Xavier or Baltice had encouraged them, they were still the ones who had fallen for the temptation.
While we talked, the Medici estate gradually came into view in the distance.
Mercenaries stood guard around the mansion. The vehicle carrying me passed through the mercenaries' salutes and entered through the main gate.
Soon the car came to a stop, and I got out.
Lorenze was already standing outside waiting.
Perhaps because of all the physical and emotional hardship he had endured, his face had become noticeably gaunt.
“Lorenze, are you really all right?”
“Haha. Yes, I'm fine. Though I never expected you to come personally.”
The first thing Lorenze had done after reclaiming the Medici family was imprison all the servants who had acted as Baltice's eyes and ears.
Afterward, he contacted the Italian government and strongly demanded that none of Baltice's requests be honored.
He also made sure that Baltice would no longer be able to influence Italy or the family.
Even if it wasn't perfect, Xavier's eyes and ears had been removed.
That was why I could come to Italy without worry.
“Let's go inside first.”
I entered the mansion with Lorenze.
Even inside, mercenaries were stationed everywhere.
“Boss.”
“John. You've worked hard.”
“It was nothing.”
I patted the tense shoulders of John, who looked stiff with nervousness, and encouraged him.
“John, thanks to you rescuing Lorenze, he was able to reclaim the Medici family. Had you been even a little late, Lorenze would have fallen into their hands.”
By the time Giuliano had arrived at the location where Lorenze had emerged through the secret passage, John had already rescued him.
If the rescue had been delayed even slightly, the outcome was obvious.
John had even deliberately left traces behind, causing them to pursue another route and buying us time.
All of those actions combined to produce the result we had today.
“Thank you.”
“Please continue taking care of things until the very end. Igor will return after wrapping up this affair, but you will remain responsible for the Medici family's security for the time being.”
I patted John's shoulder one more time before heading to Lorenze's study with him.
The old Medici study was luxurious yet comfortable.
“Please wait a moment.”
While Lorenze organized his desk, I looked over the bookshelves lining one side of the room.
Ancient books filled shelves as old as the family's history itself.
I picked one out.
The words Holy Bible, written in gold leaf, caught my eye.
The moment I opened it, the distinctive musty yet comforting scent of old paper filled my nose.
On the first page was the emblem of the Medici family.
As I traced the crest with my fingers, I wondered what this book meant to the family.
Turning page after page, I noticed annotations written in various styles of handwriting.
They were notes left behind by successive heads of the Medici family over generations.
One sentence caught my eye.
'The Lord's words are a lamp and a light that shall illuminate our path. After death, one shall live a new life.'
After death, one shall live a new life.
I silently repeated the phrase.
Was my new life truly God's will?
Or had something entirely different sent me back?
To others, those words might pass without leaving an impression.
But to someone living a second life, they lingered in my mind.
At that moment, Lorenze approached me.
He smiled when he saw the Bible in my hands.
“That Bible is an important one passed down through our family.”
The depression had vanished from his face, replaced with pride.
“One of our ancestors received it directly from the Pope while serving the Holy See. Since then, it has become a record preserving the faith and wisdom of successive family heads. This book contains not only scripture, but also our family's history and beliefs.”
“I see. Do you happen to know who wrote this passage?”
I pointed to the words I had just read.
“Ah, that note was already there. No one knows who wrote it. No story about it was ever passed down. But I heard that since the words themselves were written in the Bible given directly by the Pope, they were left untouched.”
Words that had always been there...
I carefully placed the Bible back onto the shelf.
“Come this way.”
Lorenze led me to the sofa.
Sitting across from one another, we began talking.
“So Giuliano still won't talk.”
Lorenze's expression darkened again.
He let out a quiet sigh and nodded.
“Yes. He has no intention of talking to me.”
“What about leaving the interrogation to the mercenaries? They're professionals. They'll make him spill everything.”
“But then Giuliano will be seriously hurt.”
Even after things had come to this, Lorenze was still hesitating.
I nodded slightly.
“That can't be helped. Simple as it is, there's no easier method than torture. Or drugs could be used. But those leave even greater aftereffects than torture.”
No matter which method was used, there would be consequences.
“Ha... that fool.”
“What good is dragging this out? Are you hesitating because he's your younger brother? If you had been captured instead, do you think he would have treated you like this?”
“......”
“I don't think so. To hear even the smallest piece of information you knew, torture would have followed. He wouldn't have planned this whole thing without being prepared for that.”
Even if Giuliano refused, Xavier would certainly have ordered it.
To learn even a fraction of my plans, he undoubtedly would have tortured Lorenze.
“Leave it to us.”
The reason I had come to Italy personally was to interrogate him myself.
Igor and John had contracts with Lorenze, so they could only follow the wishes of their employer.
“...I'll speak with him one last time.”
Lorenze's face looked painful as he spoke.
I nodded.
“You need to become harder. Italians may value family deeply, but if you embrace traitors, you'll only create more traitors.”
“......”
“Even the Mafia, who call each other family, crush traitors without mercy. That's how they prevent betrayal. You must cast out even your own brother mercilessly, so collateral branches and others will fear you.”
A precedent had already been created.
No one could believe such a thing would never happen to the Medici family again.
Even if not during Lorenze's time, there was nothing strange about another incident occurring in the future.
To prevent that, everyone involved had to be punished severely.
“......”
In the end, Lorenze said nothing.
Just as I was about to add another sentence, someone knocked on the study door.
“Master. It's Pietro.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and an elderly man with snow-white hair entered.
He bowed respectfully to Lorenze.
“Pietro. What is it?”
“Lord Cosimo has awakened.”
Lorenze jumped to his feet.
“Really? Is his mind clear?”
“Yes. However...”
Pietro trailed off while looking at me.
“He says he would like to meet the guest from Korea.”
“Me?”
I looked at the old man in surprise.
“How does he know I've arrived?”
“He asked for Lord Lorenze as soon as he woke up. I told him you were with our guest in the study. Upon hearing that, he said he wished to meet you personally.”
“Hm...”
Pietro bowed his head slightly toward me.
“I humbly ask this of you.”
I stood without complaint.
I had already heard from the mercenaries what kind of person Pietro was.
A loyal butler who had devoted his entire life to Cosimo and had never retreated even in front of guns and blades.
After retiring, he had remained by Cosimo's side.
I didn't dislike people like that.
To devote one's entire life in loyalty to another person was not an easy thing.
“Very well. It's hardly difficult.”
As I stood, Lorenze rose as well.
“Lord Cosimo wishes to meet Mr. Kim alone, Master.”
“What?”
“Forgive me, Master.”
Pietro bowed again.
“He said he would call for you separately later.”
“Ha... what on earth is Grandfather thinking?”
Unable to refuse Cosimo's wishes, Lorenze grumbled but sat back down.
“Then I'll be back.”
“Yes. Please.”
Leaving the study, I followed Pietro up the central staircase.
Pietro opened the door to Cosimo's bedroom and stepped aside.
“Go in. He is alone.”
I nodded and entered.
Only the sounds of machines could be heard.
An old man sat propped up against the raised bed, looking toward me.
There wasn't anyone else in the room.
Not even medical staff.
“Welcome, Signore Kim.”
Instead of calling me Charlie, my American name, Cosimo addressed me by my Korean surname.
I bowed politely.
“My name is Kim Muhyuk, Lord Cosimo.”
“A difficult pronunciation. Forgive me, but I shall call you Kim.”
“Of course. Please do as you wish.”
“Come closer.”
I approached the bed.
Blinking slowly, Cosimo observed me before speaking.
“You're younger than I expected.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Sit comfortably.”
I sat beside the bed.
Seen up close, Cosimo looked gravely ill.
“Forgive me for suddenly asking to see you. But I wanted to meet you at least once, so I committed this rudeness. I hope you understand.”
“Not at all. I also wanted to meet you.”
“Lorenze praised you endlessly while trying to persuade me. It was I who convinced Baltice's gathering by going there myself.”
“I heard about that. Thank you.”
I had already been told how important Cosimo's persuasion had been.
“Of course, I did not summon you merely for that. How far do you intend to go?”
Pretending not to understand, I remained silent.
Cosimo added,
“I mean cornering Baltice.”
“Baltice is merely additional spoils. I simply added my spoon to events that were bound to happen anyway. I didn't create this crisis artificially. This entire disaster was brought about by human greed.”
“Could it not have been prevented?”
I shook my head.
“No. Nobody could have stopped it. Everyone had already sunk too deeply into the swamp. It wasn't something one or two individuals could change.”
Cosimo nodded with difficulty.
“...Can the Medici family survive?”
“I will make sure it does, so don't worry.”
“Thank you. As long as the Medici family survives, that is enough for me. That alone is enough.”
After taking a labored breath, he asked again,
“What do you intend to do with that fool Giuliano?”
“We need to hear everything he knows. But Lorenze insists on resolving things through dialogue to the end.”
“Haha. That child Lorenze is rather soft. Sometimes frustratingly so. Forgive him, Signore Kim.”
Cosimo seemed to cherish Lorenze greatly.
Though his tone sounded reproachful, affection was subtly hidden within it.
“In any case, I'll leave that matter to you. Handle it as you see fit. Just don't let that child Lorenze stain his own hands with blood.”
I was surprised by his words, but I composed myself and asked,
“Are you serious?”
“I am. That child Lorenze is too weak. He cannot personally remove Giuliano or the elders. Therefore, I ask you to do it in his place.”
The supreme elder of the Medici family was personally asking me to punish members of his own family.
The weight of those words was anything but light.
“And... erase Baltice from this world. It is an organization whose lifespan has already ended.”
And on top of that, he asked me to erase Baltice itself.
“Why are you telling me all this? I can't understand your intentions, and frankly, it makes me uneasy.”
It was impossible to accept his words at face value.
Neither I nor Cosimo had yet revealed our true feelings.
